Jammu, Mar 3: “India and Pakistan came closest to resolving the Kashmir issue during the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. I don’t expect a return to that situation in my lifetime.”
These words from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah marked an emotional tribute to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during obituary references in the J&K Assembly’s Budget session on Monday.
The Assembly paid tribute to Singh and four former legislators who passed away since the last session in November. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of former minister Syed Ghulam Hussain Geelani, former Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh Manhas, and former MLAs Ghulam Hassan Parrey and Choudhary Piara Singh.
Abdullah praised Singh’s role in economic reforms, describing him as a visionary who transformed India into a global economic power. He highlighted Singh’s efforts in addressing the Kashmir issue, continuing the dialogue initiated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pervez Musharraf.
“Despite a deteriorating situation, Dr. Singh made sincere efforts. His working groups on Kashmir remain relevant even today,” Abdullah said.
He also credited Singh’s government for practical steps toward rehabilitating displaced Kashmiri Pandits, such as introducing job reservations and setting up Jagti township in Jammu.
Abdullah further acknowledged Singh’s contributions to infrastructure development, including the four-lane Jammu-Srinagar highway and the railway project connecting Kashmir with the rest of India.
“We are now waiting for the Prime Minister to inaugurate the railway line to the Valley. The work started by Manmohan Singh is finally being completed,” he said.
The session saw participation from leaders across parties, including BJP’s Sham Lal Sharma, Congress’ G A Mir, and CPIM’s M Y Tarigami, who reflected on Singh’s contributions to India’s economic growth and Indo-Pak relations.
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